Ink circulating mechanism



Aug. 19, 1941. E. w. HAMANT INK CIRCULATING MECHANISM "Original Filed Sept. 5', 1937 W/ I M Z Z AW UNITED STATE,

' to my assigned Patented Aug. 19,1941

s": PATENT OFFICE rm: cmciimrma Macrmmsn I Edward William Hamant, Dayton, Ohio, alslgnor to Oxford Varnish Corporation, a corporation of Michigan nan-on, Mich mm! application seam... 3,1937, Serial No. 1182,26. Divided and thisapplication'August 18,1939, Serial Nazsoszo 6 Claim.

application resulting in issuance of Pat. 2,170,817

dated August 29, 1939.

' The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved ink or pigment circulating apparatus for circulatingink or pigment in a surface decorating mechanism such as, for instance, a graining machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for circulating ink orpigment in a surface decorating machine, together with an improved operating mechanism therefor, which will be simple to manufacture,

efflcient in operation, readily adapted for usei with various types of surface decorating machines, and quickly adjusted to suit the printing mechanism and operating conditions with which it is used.

Other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. The essential features of theinvention will be summarized in the claims. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a decorating mechanism, illustrating my improved ink circulating mechanism in position thereon, and Fig. 2 isa vertical axial section. taken through the circulating mechanism, the plane of the section being substantially parallel with Fig. 1.

The pigment or ink circulating mechanism with which this invention is particularly concerned, is illustratedin the drawing as applied to a surface decorating machine of the type illus- A coating of ink or graining is applied to. the patternan'd is forced into the depressions therein. The excess ink or paste is then removed by a suitable scraping mechanism such as that illustrated, described and claimed in my co-pending application for Letters Patent heretofore referred to. Sufllce. it to say that this scraping mechanism leaves only such pigment on the pattern-as remains in the depressions in the plate, and removes the surplus, permitting it to fall by gravityto a trough or pan 27. beneath the pattern roll.

Mounted adjacent to and in running contact with. the pattern roll it isan offset or transfer roll l5. This transfer roll may be made of the usual glue and glycerin compound, or any other suitable material which will cause the ink in the depressions of the pattern plate to be transferred therefrom to, the surface of such transfer roll,

and then transfer such ink to the work W. The pattern roll Ill' and the transfer roll l5 are mounted on respective shafts l8 and 20, which are suitably journalled in framemembers 2|.

trated and claimed in Patent No. 2,096,731, issued Oxford Varnish Corporation, 0ctober 26, 1937. This decorating mechanism is especially adapted for the application of a decorative coating to the surfaces of metallic frames,

such as sheet-metal automotive vehicle window,

Ink is applied to the pattern I I by an applicator such as that shown and described in Patent No.

1,997,612, issued to my asslgnee, Oxford Varnish Corporation, April 16, 1935, and reference to such patent may be had for a detailed description of such mechanism. Briefly, such ink applying mechanism comprises a tube 30 which extends parallel with the axis of the pattern roll ID. A conveyor screw 3i is rotatably mounted within this tube. The lower end of the tube is arranged to project into a reservoir or receptacle 33, and

is provided with a suitable opening 34 to permit ink to be drawn upwardly by the screw from the reservoir. The tube 30 is positioned adjacent and parallel with the surface of the pattern II, as indicated in Fig. 1. Thus ink drawn upwardly from the reservoir is fed to the pattern roll through a port or opening 35 in the wall of the tube 30, and falls downwardly, along the pattern.

The rolls and. ink applicator are all power driven. As illustrated, the pattern roll shaft l8 and thetransfer roll shaft" are providedwith interengaging gears 22 and 23, respectivelyf" The pattern roll'shaft is driven by a power shaft 24 through suitable gearing 25. Secured to the upper end of the ink applicator screw 31 is a pinion 26, which meshes with the pattern roll gear 22.

Thus, the various mechanisms are driven in synchronism with each other. I i

The ink or graining paste applied to the pattern H by the'ink applicator is spread thereon and theexcess ink or paste removed bya suitable scraper mechanism, not shown in this application. However, reference may be had to Patent 2,170,817, heretofore referred to, for a complete description of such scraper mechanism. Such mechanism causes the excess ink removed thereby, to fall by gravity onto an inclined surface 21 of the frame 2| and thence through a passageway 2l,-into a pan or receptacle 2!, which is supported beneath and by the frame 2| in any suitable manner. From the receptacle 29, the ink is returned to the reservoir 33 by the recirculating mechanism with which the present invention is particularly concerned.

. I claim:

1. A circulating mechanism for circulating ink graining paste and the like comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a supply of such ink, graining paste or the like, a pump mounted in said receptacle and having areciprocable mem- The ink or pigment recirculating mechanism includes a pump 100 and is best illustrated in Fig. 2. As there shown, this pump comprises a pair of telescopically arranged tubes 40 and 4|. The upper tube is adJustably secured by a set screw 42 to a block 43 which is removably carried by the frame 2|, Brojecting into and secured to the upper end of the tube 40 as by welding is a thirdtube 44, to which a conduit 4! .15 secured in any suitable manner to conduct the ink from the pump to the reservoir 33. end of the tube-48 is peened inwardly, as indicated at 48, and is normally closed by a ball 48,

The lower the diameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the tube 4|. A spring 53, interposed between the lower end of the tube 40 and the ball 52, normally maintains the ball in its lowermost or tube closing position. When the tube 4| is raised relative to the tube 40, ink trapped between the two balls 49 and 52 forces the ball 49 upward against the action of the spring 50 and the trapped ink is forced into the tube 40. When the tube 4| is moved downward relative to the tube 49, the spring 50 causes the ball 49 to close the passageway between the tubes 40 and 4|, and creates a partial vacuum in the tube 4|. When, however, the ball 52, of the tube 4|, engages the bottom wall 54 of the pan or receptacle, 29, it is moved upward against the acber provided with an intake valve, means to move said member to bring said valve into contact with said receptacle at a point beneath the ink level thereof, and wherein said valve is arranged and adapted to open automatically consequent upon the engagement of said valve with said receptacle. I

2. A circulating mechanism for circulating link graining paste and the like comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a supply of such ink,

ing paste or the like, a pump'mounted in said.

tion of its spring 53 and the partial vacuum in the .tube 4| causes the ink in such pan to flow into such tube. Thus, it will be seen that con bracket 43, which as heretofore mentioned is removably secured to the frame 2 I.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided a compact ink recirculating mechanism which may be removed from the decorating mechanism as a unit, and which may be cleansed or adjusted readily, thereby facilitating the change of colors. Further, such mechanism may be economically manufactured and applied to a decorating apparatus.

" stant reciprocation of the tube 4| relative to the a tube 40 will cause the ink to be drawn upward graining paste or the like, a pump mounted in said receptacle and having a reciprocable member provided with an intake valve, means to alternately move said member to bring said valve into and out of contact with said receptacle at a point beneath the ink level thereof, said valve being arranged and adapted to open automatically consequent upon its engagement with said receptacle and wherein the movement of said member produces a partial vacuum in said pump whereby such ink, graining paste or the. like will be drawn into said pump.

3. A circulating mechanism for circulating ink graining paste and the like comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a supplyof ink, grainreceptacle, said pump including a reciprocable member provided with an intake valve, means to'move said member to bring said valve into and out of contact with the bottom of said receptacle, said valve being arranged and adapted to open automatically consequent upon its engagement with the bottom of said receptacle, and wherein the movement of said member toward the bottom of said receptacle produces a partial vacuum in said pump whereby ink, graining paste or the like will be drawn into said pump consequent upon the opening of said valve, and

means whereby the movement of said member in the opposite direction discharges such ink, graining paste or the like from said pump.

4. A circulating mechanism for ink, graining paste and the like, comprising a pair'of telescopically arranged tubes, one extending below the other, a'check valve in the lower end of each 7 tube, resilient means within respective tubes to maintain said respective check valves in a nor- 'mal or closed position, the check valve in the' lowermost tube comprising a ball which extends below the lowermost surface of said tube and which is adapted to permit flow of material into said tube ,when sai ball is forced upward into said tube as by con act with an external object, and means to reciprocate the lowermost tube relative to the other tube. i

5. A circulating mechanism for circulating ink,

graining paste-and the like, said mechanism comprising, a tube, a check valve at the lower end of said tube to prevent flow of material from such end of said tube, a second tube telescopically and slidably embracingthe first tube, said second-tube extending beyond the end of the first tube, a;check' valve normally closing the extending end of said second tube, resilient means normally acting to maintain said check in a closed position, wherein said" check valve extends beyond the end of said last named tube and is arranged and adapted'iftobe automatically opened consequent upon strikingan external surface,

and means to reciprocate said second named tube relative to the first named tube to cause such contact to take place.

6. A circulating mechanism for circulating fluids or semi-fluids, such as ink, graining paste and the like, said mechanism comprising a. tube, a ball check valve at the lower end of said tube to prevent flow of material from such end .of said tube, a spring in said tube to close said check valve, a second tube telescopically and slidably embracing the first tube. said second tube extending below the lowermost end of the first tube, a ball check valve normally closing the extending end of said second tube, a spring interposed between the end of the first tube and the ball check normally acting to maintain said ball check in a closed position, and said tubes in an expanded position, the ball or said last-named check valve extending beyond the lowermost end of said last-named tube whereby when it con-- tacts the bottom of a receptacle containing the fluid or semi-fluid said last-named check will be automatically opened to admit fluid to said tube, and means to reciprocate said second-named tube relative to the first-named tube and the bottom or the receptacle to cause such contact to take place and to subsequently, move the second-named tube toward the first-named tube to discharge the fluid from the pump.

EDWARD WILLIAM HAMANT. 

